TheCoolFan
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I'm hoping it would just be for obvious misses on plays involving where the ball goes...and it's easy to know which ones those are because we would notice them immediately on the broadcast, just like the announcers do. Those 2 controversial plays at the end of the GB/KC would have been perfect examples. The late hit on Mahomes would have been overturned (it was a bad call but I don't blame the refs for that because in real-time on the field, it would probably look like a late hit out of bounds) and the PI on the downfield throw would have been called.I don't know how they fix the problem. Can an official review every play on video and look for penalties? I saw at least half a dozen obvious penalties not called in the Chiefs-Packers game. Same with the 49ers-Eagles game. More importantly, they tried reviewing PI calls and the refs on the field were almost never overturned. It was as if the booth ref was deliberately not overturning any calls. If the video review is not going to be honest and objective then there is no point in adding technology.
I wonder what the refs would say if they were shown the replay of some obvious penalties that were not called, what reason would they give for missing the call? Take the PI that wasn't called on the Packers at the end of the game tonight. What did the refs see that they declined to throw a flag? In the Washington game today, I saw an obvious forceful blow to the head on the Washington QB that wasn't called. Why not? Do the refs review these plays with the league? Does the league inform than that they made a mistake and to get it right next time? I don't know the answers but I suspect such reviews would be helpful to get a more consistent application of the rules. But this would probably require full time refs.
And also for any pre-snap penalties like false starts, offsides, and missed personal fouls. It's so annoying seeing a missed facemask that the TV replay shows and then they justify it by saying "Well the refs didn't see it so we play on". Those types of misses should be easily caught by a Sky Judge. PI/holdings can be difficult as those are judgement calls but clear-cut penalties like facemasks, horsecollars, etc. should always be enforced if it happened.
I don't think they would be as useful in calling penalties in the trenches but hopefully that's something the on-field refs would be able to focus on more if they knew they had a replay official who could help them in the other aspects.